Saturday, March 25, 2017

I actually made it out to a club night this past week! Bruce kindly hosted Terry and me in a game of Pulp Alley. A game mechanic are plot points and these figures below were placed about the table to indicate where these were.

The game was a gangsters themed game. The cops had to escort Mr. Big across the table while the gangsters needed to get him alone and then resolve a plot point.

The cops were added by a variety of radio heroes, including the Shadow, the Green Hornet and Cato. In the end, the gangsters kind of goofed their way to victory (but we're not proud--a victory it was!).

Overall, fun mechanics. I wonder if it would work for Batman. At the other table, Dave hosted Scott and Craig in a 10mm Kursk game. Below, Craig is leading the motherland to a bloody victory.

I finished off a few more 54mm AWI guys, This time, I turned my brush to some highlanders from ATKMs. Nice figures. I wish I had the skills to do them justice.

There was about three times the detail on the highlanders (damned fabrics!) as on other figures so I only finished four of the eight figures. I think I am satisfied--I certainly won't be stripped them.

I have four more (including bagpiper) underway but have set them aside while I do a bunch of rebel militia (which go much faster!) and regain my patience.

Up next: I'm planning on gaming with Bruce this week. If I can find some time to read Pulp Heroes, I will also give some thought to a Batman game.

Sunday, March 19, 2017

With life starting to return to normal, I found some time to paint this week. The only thing I finished were four Hessian Jaegers to round out the Hessian forces for Tricorne.

Despite a lot of work, these guys turned out quite plain! I had to lighten the coats a lot with layering as the original colour I chose was just way too dark. For whatever reason, my camera phone went mental with the red--it is not so vivid in person!

They are a touch bigger than the plastic Hessians who make up most of my force. But they fit in well enough and I quite like the short carbines.

Up next: The club this week is my goal. I have also been painting on some British Highlanders (so much fiddly detail!) and I based and primed 18 American rifle militia. The latter should go quickly with some washes.

Saturday, March 11, 2017

Life continues to conspire to keep me from the club but I did some painting this week. First up were four 54mm British light infantry to round out the figures I need for Tricorne.

I think the original I used as a guide is on the right. More or less close on the colours and level of washing. I also did four figures to round out the provincials I need. The original is in the middle (yellow hat trim). This required me to custom mix the coat colour. I think I did pretty well there.

I also received a shipment of Lego knockoffs from China. Vader, Saruman, and the AT-ST's are real but the rest are not. This might make an interesting Dragons Rampant army. Two units of heavy cavalry, three units of light, two units of foot/missile, and two heroes. Hmmm.

Up next: I've got some more 54's under way: four hessian jaegers and eight Highlanders in kilts. Struggling a bit with the plaid.

Saturday, March 4, 2017

It has been a busy week, including a fairly spectacular fall on the ice that has left me hobbled (nothing major just a swollen knee so I can neither pedal nor clutch). But before that happened, I managed to get out to Bruce's to continue our Aurelian/Punic Wars campaign.

I knew this battle was going to be bad as Bruce had 50% more troops that I had. He also had good move cards at the beginning and pressured me on both sides. Nothing much came of the right flank--all of the real action was on the left.

Someinitial skirmishing gave way to a closing of the heavies. I managed to do a lot of damage bt not enough to stop Bruce so I switched tactics and tried to run myself out of cards as fast as I could to limit my own losses.

In the end, Carthage clearly held the field and I lost a lot of troops. Oh well!

We then switched back to the board game. Bruce continued to pressure in the north and I decided to let myself be besieged. Bruce also decided to cross from Carthage to Sicily in the south. Unfortunately, a naval battle went poorly for him and our next battle will be in the south where I will have a numerical advantage.

Campaign wise, the losses may also really affect the event roll and possibly cause some Carthaginian provinces to defect. But I could could still lose spectacularly on the field of battle so I'm not counting those chickens.